TARFUS

From Tradition to the Future…

Paterson Mawlana Mosque (Paterson, NJ)

While it was built in 1897 and serving as a church, four charitable citizens, who learned that it was for sale in 2014 due to need, founded the Paterson Mevlana Mosque Association on March 27, 2015 and purchased it for $$950,000.

$380,000 will be paid upfront, and the remaining $570,000 will be paid over a 10-year term. As of today, the remaining $57,600 remains outstanding. The remaining amount will be paid in two installments, one on March 27, 2025, and the other on March 27, 2026. Repairs will cost approximately $250,000.

The residence, which consists of a basement, ground floor, first floor, and attic in its garden, has been completely renovated, with the heating system and appliances replaced. The ground floor has been converted into a children's classroom and smart boards have been installed.

A mezzanine floor was built inside the mosque for women, the entire mosque was carpeted, the kitchen and hall were completely renovated, restrooms and ablution facilities were installed for both men and women, the heating system was overhauled, and two split air conditioners were installed. The mosque was painted inside and out, and the parking area was paved. An electrical sign was installed, and the electrical system was overhauled.

The mosque's entrance door was rebuilt and imported from Türkiye, the roof was maintained, the garden fences were replaced and renovated with assistance from Homeland Security, the kitchen door, the residence entrance door, and the classroom door were also replaced, and the mosque and residence's camera systems were updated. With the help of a benefactor, an automatic opening door was installed inside the mosque.

The mosque is 300 m2, the kitchen is 280 m2, the mezzanine is 100 m2, the classroom is 111 m2, and the lodging building, including the classroom, is 222 m2.

The first officials of the mosque were Muhammed GÜNDOĞDU and his wife Rabia GÜNDOĞDU, who came for a long term and returned to Türkiye when their term expired, and Mustafa YAMAN came to replace them on October 20, 2021, again for a long term, and he still continues his duty.

Plans to be made: 3-storey additional building will be built and the dining hall section will be expanded to two

At the same time, the mosque and the women's gallery will be enlarged, a classroom for children will be built on one floor, and the grass-planted parking area will be asphalted and used as a field car park.

Four founding members: 1) Hasan Ören 2) Nurettin Demircan 3) Selami Yiğit 4) Mehmet Odacı. Sami DEMİR and Nahit ÇELİKEL joined the association later. The number of members is 75.

Presidents of the Association (respectively): 1) Hasan ÖREN, 2) Kemal ÜSTÜN, 3) Nahit ÇELİKEL, Muhammet AKAT and Cafer KILIÇ served as imams for approximately 1.5 years. The Mosque Deed was transferred to the Turkish Religious Foundation.

 Address: 66 Bloomfield Ave. Paterson, NJ 07503

 President of the Association: Nahit CELIKEL
201 954 58 49
gits36@hotmail.com